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NPR Back On Political Radar

For NPR there just is no way to hide anymore. As politicians attempt to address their out-of-control spending habits, House Republicans announced plans to cut funding for Pell college tuition grants, NPR and other Democratic priorities, setting up more partisan fighting for sure. It's hardly a surprise, NPR is once again a target for budget slicers. The legislation announced Thursday revives cuts Republicans proposed but gave up on earlier this year. Among them are proposals to end federal funding for NPR and eliminate the Americorps volunteer program, a Clinton administration initiative.

The provisions are included in a $153.4 billion measure needed to fund the departments of Health and Human Services, Education and Labor for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The Republicans' plan would amount to $4 billion cut or about 2.5 percent less than this year. The committee estimated the plan provides 15 percent less than the administration sought in its February budget request.

The House plans next week to take up a second measure that would keep federal agencies operating until Nov. 18 while lawmakers negotiate budget levels for the rest of the 2012 fiscal year. Congress hasn't completed work on any of the 12 annual appropriations bills that establish funding levels for hundreds of programs